Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"Trent..." Stanper laughed softly and he answered Trent's call.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at base." Trent answered, looking at Anton and Wanda.

"Is there a problem, Mr. President?"

"There's no problem..." Stanper replied,

"I've spoken to the Secretary of State and the Minister of Defense... You can proceed with the branches."

"Thank you. I am very grateful." Trent laughed softly,

"I will contact and—"

"You can do anything you want with the Branches," Stanper interrupted,

"I'm calling on behalf of some friends."

"The ones that have interest in me? I am always happy to—"

"The Sinclairs— the most patriotic family in the country." Stanper cut in,

"There's a birthday banquet coming up in a week for the family head."

"And I'm worthy to be invited?"

"Of course." Stanper scoffed,

"Who else would be worthy at the moment? You're the brightest star right now, and my friends—"

"I will be honored to attend." Trent chuckled,

"It is the fortune of the country to have such great patriots."

"Patriots my ass." Thaddeus scoffed.

"Who's there?" Stanper asked,

"I just heard—"

"I'm here with the technician that connected my phone to branch server."

Stanper stayed silent for a while,

"I was wondering how you could call from there."

"He's a genius..." Trent chuckled

"There's always a spot available for such a genius..." Stanper laughed,

"You can tell him—"

"Do I get an invitation card?"

"...What?"

"For entrance into the banquet... Do I get some entrance ticket?"

"Oh... Your name." Stanper laughed,

"I'm sure the security will be briefed on all the guests."

"Can I bring my wife along? I apologize about the tension last time. She's really good to—"

"You can bring anyone along."

"Thank—"

Trent looked at his phone as Stanper cut the call.

"What was that?" He looked at Wanda's phone.

"He must've heard what you—"

"Chill..." Thaddeus interrupted,

"Even if he heard, I'll just scramble that part or do something to clean it up."

"Really..." Trent scoffed,

"You're really adapting to the tech life."

"A god must adapt." Thaddeus replied, laughing.

"What did the President say?" Anton asked

"It's an invite to Reagan Sinclair's birthday banquet." Trent answered,

"They must be getting ready to meet. I'll go with—"

"I'll come along." Anton interrupted with a firm voice

"I don't think that's a good—"

"It's not a bad idea." Trent interrupted Wanda,

They looked at him.

"It's a valid card to play." Trent chuckled,

"They'll probably think I don't know about my father yet. They'll try to spin some lies and—"

"There's a Sinclair that died Twenty-Six years ago— Leonard Sinclair... It's a beautiful coincidence." Thaddeus chuckled.

"Now what do you think they'll do to him if the variables fall out of place?" Wanda asked, glancing at Anton.

"They'll eliminate it." Anton answered,

"That's what the Sinclairs do..."

"They won't have the chance to care about you." Trent laughed,

"You won't be the only one coming along. And certainly not the only branch head."

"Who do you—"

"The old man... Sir Frez."

"Why do you want—"

"I got the President's permission to use the Branches and Frez is the oldest out of the branch chiefs we're currently working with."

"So he'll be the representative." Anton muttered,

"Yes. If that's—"

"Thank the stars..." Anton exhaled hard, placing his hand on Wanda's shoulder.

"I've prayed for this freedom."

"Frez Bernaut?" Thaddeus cut in

"Yes..." Anton answered slowly, brows raised.

"Do you know him?"

"We only met once." Thaddeus answered,

"Through Harv... He refused to become Director of the program when I offered."

"What did you offer?" Trent asked

"Nothing." Thaddeus answered

"That's—"

"I really offered nothing. He beat me in a game of chess and refused to take my offer. He's one of the few people Harvey has brought to visit."

"That's weird..." Anton looked at Trent.

"Does Sir Frez have some background that we don't know of?"

"It's nothing much." Thaddeus chuckled, "When the Reeves fell, the few families that remained loyal till the end fell with them."

"And the Bernauts were—"

"Yes." Thaddeus interrupted Trent.

"I had them spread out in various government programs for their safety. Frez must've ended up there."

"What did he say when you met?" Anton asked,

"He said thank you. It was an awkward meeting but he was a cool headed person so we hit it off that day."

"And I'm assuming that he knows about me. Since Harvey—"

"Yes." Thaddeus answered,

"And you should call him Uncle Harvey."

"How much older is Mom to—"

"Harv is my second son. Four years younger than Wanda. His mother passed away when he was ten."

"So she was—"

"One of the wives I had to marry as Emperor." Thaddeus cut in

Trent exhaled and lowered his head,

"You plan to execute your revenge by next week."

"Yes." Thaddeus answered.

"There's a lot of things going on." Trent raised his head.

"A revenge against the Sinclairs. Business. The invitation from Aerwin. The throne..."

"With great power..." Thaddeus chuckled, "comes great responsibility."

"And..." Trent looked at Anton,

"I have to help Marie get her revenge."

"Against who?" Anton asked, confused

"Morlov Sanchez." Trent scoffed,

"He's one hell of a terrible father. You're quite lucky, old man." He laughed softly.

"I am." Anton chuckled,

"All thanks to the stars."

"I'm heading back." Trent exhaled,

"I have to sort everything out." He looked at Wanda.

"I'll tell you when the house is ready."

"Have you met Cisco and his team? They've been wanting to meet you since I gave them the funds."

"I told Cisco I'll invite them for dinner soon. They might get really busy soon."

He stared at the phone for a while.

"I will contact Uncle Harvey if I have to become the Sun."

I hope it doesn't come to that.

"I'll tell him." Thaddeus chuckled.

_____

"I just got a call from a company called BlueBee..."

"What did they say?" Trent's grip tightened on the wheel as he glanced at the phone.

"That they'll agree to your terms and even sell for three times." Xander answered,

"What's going on?"

"I'm trying to buy their shares..." Trent chuckled,

"A complete buy—"

"No. Just up to sixty percent of their shares. Enough to become—"

"Major shareholder." Xander interrupted.

"It's a great business but we could always branch out from Reeves Technologies into—"

"Why branch out later when we can get BlueBee now?" Trent laughed,

"It's a goldmine."

"Other companies will set their eyes on BlueeBee since you have. They might offer—"

"Who else will be crazy enough to offer more than five times the current price?" Trent scoffed,

"Sure... There might be someone. But they won't sell."

"You trust them that—"

"I trust their passion for the company. They won't."

They wouldn't have called this early if they wanted to meet another person.

They haven't even confirmed my part of the deal with the SEC.

"You'll get really busy." He chuckled

Xander exhaled hard.

"There's a lot of work with—"

"I'm kidding..." Trent laughed,

"I have some guys that can work there."

And,

"Angela will represent me at BlueBee."

"That's a good idea..." Xander laughed softly,

"We even just spoke on the phone. She's coming with her sister this evening."

"I'll get some—"

"Marie says she'll have everything prepared."

_____

"Good evening, Mr. Ackerman." The lady besides Angela stood up as Trent walked into the dining room.

"Good evening, Miss Rosetta..." Trent laughed, walking to her.

"You are such an artist in your work."

She blinked and glanced at Angela.

"You've... read my works?"

"After I heard you were Angela's sister. I apologize if this seems—"

Rosetta laughed softly,

"You're very honest." She smiled,

"I guess I should thank Angela."

"She's a very bright associate." Trent chuckled, looking at Angela.

He walked to his chair and sat down watching Marie and Rosetta exchange greetings.

"It's nice to have you here, Miss Rosetta..."

"It's my honor to be here, Mr. Ackerman—"

"Just call me Trent." He interrupted with a smile,

"You can drop the formality with me."

She laughed softly and looked at Angela.

"You are just as unique as they said you were."

"Sis, that's—"

"Oh?" Trent leaned in, looking at Angela as her face flushed,

"I wonder what they've said." He looked at Theo.

"Just the facts, Man..." Theo chuckled,

"Pure facts."

They all laughed.

Rosetta turned to Trent,

"I don't know how to appreciate you for what you've done for—"

"I consider the Mikhail and Angela a part of my small family." Trent interrupted,

"I guess we're related now."

"Thank you very much..." She bowed her head, "I don't know what I'd have done if—"

"Sis..." Angela interrupted, holding her.

Trent looked at Angela and raised his glass.

"Congratulations, Miss Angela..."

They looked at him, confused.

"W–What's happening..." Angela asked as Xander raised his glass too.

"I know it's sudden bringing business up right now," Trent looked at Rosetta,

"I plan to make Angela CEO when I become the major shareholder of BlueBee Technologies."

Marie, Theo, Angela and Rosetta gasped.

"You're buying BlueBee Technologies?" Rosetta asked,

"That company has been—"

"Yes." Trent chuckled,

"That's a scoop, no?"